Category: Democratic Governance and Rule of Law
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EU Budget Negotiating Box Gives Capitals Figures To Fight Over
Dublin: The Irish Council Presidency’s third EU budget negotiating box, presented on 10 October 2026, is the first to contain figures, and governments now have to decide how far to…
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Circular Economy Act Slips To 18 November As Textiles Await Rules
Rotterdam: The Circular Economy Act, one of the Commission’s flagship green files, has slipped by a week. FashionUnited reported on 29 October 2026 that the presentation, originally scheduled for 11…
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Quality Jobs Act Awaits Commission Proposal After Consultation
Turin: The Quality Jobs Act is the most important social proposal still expected from the European Commission this year, and employers and unions are already preparing for it. A DLA…
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Return Hubs In Third Countries Gain Final Approval From Council
Valletta: Return hubs in third countries are about to become part of European law after the Council gave final approval to the new Return Regulation, according to Anadolu Agency’s report…
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Montenegro EU Membership Roadmap Points To A 2028 Accession Target
Podgorica: Montenegro EU membership moved closer on 4 November 2026, when the European Commission presented its 2026 Enlargement Package with indicative roadmaps for the four most advanced candidates. Montenegro, Albania,…
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Cohesion Policy Reform Must Build On What Works, Regions Warn
Trieste: Cohesion policy reform must build on what works rather than start again, according to local and regional leaders who met in Trieste on 29 October 2026. About 30 representatives…
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Mediterranean Fishing Opportunities For 2027 Await Science Advice
Palermo: The Commission’s proposal on Mediterranean fishing opportunities for 2027 is on the table, but its most important numbers are still missing. The Commission published the proposal in mid-September 2026…
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AkzoNobel Axalta Merger Clears Review As Paper Venture Faces Phase Two
Helsinki: The AkzoNobel Axalta merger won clearance from the European Commission in the first phase of review, according to a competition briefing published on 6 November 2026, after the companies…
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EBA Internal Governance Guidelines Bring Proportionality To Banks
La Défense: The European Banking Authority published revised EBA internal governance guidelines on 5 November 2026, promising greater proportionality and simplification for banks. The update follows changes introduced by the…
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Unfair Trading Practices Rules Face Targeted Revision After Push
Bratislava: Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen has announced a targeted revision of the EU rules on unfair trading practices in the food supply chain, after four central European governments pressed the…
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Customs Handling Fee Of Two Euros Hits Small Parcels From Abroad
Lille: The customs handling fee on small parcels from outside the European Union was due to start on 1 November 2026, adding 2 euros to the 3 euro customs duty…
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Education and Skills Package Takes Aim At Weak Pupil Results
Tallinn: The Education and Skills package that the European Commission launched on 5 November 2026 asks governments to reverse falling pupil results and a shrinking teaching workforce. Executive Vice-President Roxana…
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Public Finances Slip With Euro Area Government Deficit At 3.3 Percent
Luxembourg: The euro area government deficit reached 3.3 percent of GDP in the second quarter of 2026, up from 3.2 percent in the first quarter, according to figures Eurostat published…
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ECDC Ebola Deployment To Nigeria Extends Europe’s Outbreak Reach
Abuja: The ECDC Ebola deployment to Nigeria announced on 27 October 2026 shows how Europe’s disease agency now works outside the Union to contain outbreaks early. A team led by…
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Poultry Case Clarifies Rome II Product Liability For Components
Ferrara: The Court of Justice of the European Union has clarified how Rome II product liability rules decide which country’s law applies when a defective component ends up in a…
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Rhine Drought Shows Critical Infrastructure Climate Risk
Kaub: The 2026 weather extremes have turned critical infrastructure climate risk from a modelling exercise into a daily operating problem, according to Briefing 22/2026 from the European Environment Agency, published…
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Draft Quantum Act Could Bar Non-EU Suppliers From Public Contracts
Delft: The draft Quantum Act that the European Commission is scheduled to propose on 18 November could exclude quantum technology suppliers controlled from outside the European Union from public contracts,…
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Shoppers Retreat And Euro Area Retail Trade Drops 0.7 Percent
Larnaca: Euro area retail trade fell by 0.7 percent in September 2026, according to the first estimate Eurostat published on 6 November, and the drop was far steeper than economists…
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Health Emergency Preparedness Gaps Surface In First EU Assessments
Kraków: Health emergency preparedness across Europe shows strong commitment but recurring weaknesses, according to the first full round of assessments completed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.…
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Joint Guidance Sets Rules For Bundibugyo Ebola Vaccine Trials
Kigali: Ebola vaccine trials against the Bundibugyo virus now have a regulatory roadmap after the European Medicines Agency and the African Medicines Agency issued joint guidance on 23 October 2026.…
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RSV Newborn Immunisation Could Prevent 61 Percent Of Infant Admissions
Lund: RSV newborn immunisation could prevent 61 percent of RSV-related hospitalisations among infants in the first two months of life, according to a new modelling report from the European Centre…
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KLM State Aid Ruling Restores Commission Approval Of Covid Support
Amstelveen: The Court of Justice of the European Union delivered a KLM state aid ruling on 5 November 2026 that restores the Commission’s approval of Dutch Covid-19 liquidity support for…
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Irish Surge Lifts Euro Area GDP Growth Past Forecasts In Third Quarter
Waterford: Euro area GDP growth reached 0.4 percent in the third quarter of 2026, according to Eurostat’s flash estimate published on 30 October, twice the 0.2 percent that forecasters expected.…
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Payment Services Regulation Puts Banks On The Hook For Fraud Losses
Madrid: The payment services regulation that EU institutions have negotiated since 2023 is close to becoming law, and it will change who pays when fraudsters empty a bank account. The…